Cancer survivors and lawmakers take part in “Suits and Sneakers Day” at Statehouse

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Participants in an annual event at the Statehouse swapped out their loafers and heels for a pair of sneakers.

“Suits and Sneakers Day” encourages lawmakers and volunteers to “hit the ground running” — and make cancer policies a priority.

“One of the reasons I got into cancer research to begin with is, I want to impact lives with the same kind of research that saved my parents. Being here today, I hope that my story makes that impact on our legislators. I want the story of survivorship and cancer control and treatment to be one that we can all share, as opposed to the sadder one,” says Dr. Ian Padykula with the Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston.

Hosted by The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, advocates say they’re pushing legislators to increase access to healthcare by expanding Medicaid, and to pass an expansion on what cancer detection and imagery options are covered under insurance.

“The hardest thing I do as a health insurance agent is to have to tell my client no. And that no can come in the form of you don’t qualify for health insurance, therefore you don’t have access to preventative care, or you don’t have access to the treatment you need,” says Medicare Insurance Agent Jeff Howle with Health Markets Insurance in Lexington.

Participants say they’re also asking for part of a recent settlement with the vape company Juul to be used for tobacco prevention programs across the state, especially among students, who can be high users of vapes.

“They don’t think cancer could affect them, but vaping, chewing tobacco, smoking cigarettes, they all could lead to you developing cancer, so fighting that at a young age helps you in the long term,” says USC student Shannon Sullivan.

Beth Harris, breast cancer survivor of 16 years, also took part in “Suits and Sneakers.”

“You can live through this. I did, I was almost stage four, I’m 16 years out, so offering hope and encouragement and resources and support is invaluable, so being here today is everything I believe in and everything I stand for, and that’s why we have these sneakers on,” she says.

The American Cancer Society reports that around 35,000 South Carolinians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025.